MA Screenwriting

Course Overview

Do you have a passion for creative writing and storytelling? Do you want to write screenplays for television and film? Our MA Screenwriting course is for anyone who wants to develop their writing voice and learn the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in this sector.

During your time on this course you’ll study at our Pinewood Studios base, putting you right at the heart of not only the hustle and bustle of a working studio, but also one of the UK’s most important creative communities.

Why study at BNU?

Our MA Screenwriting is a highly vocational and hands-on course, which will develop your understanding of various aspects of writing for the screen and help you to graduate with a portfolio of writing credits. Not only has this course been designed with industry needs in mind, it is also led and taught by top professionals and lecturers who have years of experience in their field, training future generations and writing and producing award-winning films and TV shows.

Our hand-picked team of experienced professionals are eager to pass on their expertise to the next generation of budding screenwriters. With their support and insider knowledge, you’ll graduate with the skills the industry is looking for.

You will study:

• How to write an effective treatment and TV Bible
• How to pitch ideas to producers
• The art of designing narrative structures
• How to write engaging characters
• The art of writing effective dialogue
• How to deal with agents and producers
• Techniques to overcome the challenges of rewriting and responding to notes
• How to survive in the industry as a freelance writer

What will I study?

Our MA Screenwriting course is run over 12 months, and you will work together with fellow students on a mix of core and optional modules. You’ll have the chance to develop your writing voice, learn screenwriting craft skills, and acquire the knowledge to help you succeed in this rewarding and growing sector. You’ll look at how to structure scenes, write convincing characters and dialogue, and consider genre and narrative models. Through a series of workshops, you’ll be guided through the process of producing and assessing industry-standard scripts for films and High End TV (HETV).

You will develop advanced research skills to demonstrate a systematic understanding of narrative techniques and their application for the development of your own projects and you will work collaboratively to produce a 55 page pilot for HETV as well as a 90-page feature film screenplay.

This course will also deal with practical matters, giving you valuable insights into pitching, overcoming writers block and the practicalities of being a freelance writer, getting and dealing with agents and will introduce you to helpful networking strategies.

Depending on your chosen options, you may focus on writing and pitching a long-form industry-standard series for TV or streaming services. You may wish to create an original feature film screenplay, or to gain professional creative skills in writing and pitching a feature film treatment. You may decide to develop a High End Television pilot, working collaboratively in a simulated writers’ room, and adopting industry-relevant processes to enhance employable team-working skills or to gain in-depth knowledge of the practicalities of operating as a freelancer, from effective networking to securing a contract. You will develop advanced research skills and apply these to a written thesis linked to your practical studies.

Your scripts will receive feedback from industry professionals looking at the UK market and will also be reviewed by professional screenwriters with extensive experience in the European and international market.

You should have the equivalent of a British Honours degree (2:1 minimum) in a relevant subject. If you do not have any formal academic qualifications but do have experience in the industry and previous training in a relevant area, we will consider your application on an individual basis. We are very open to those who show relevant experience useful to the degree. We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications from anywhere in the world. If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.